Fire-place



(No Modem E. GHIGKERING.

FIRE PLACE. No. 308,465.

- j; @6) l jzg 5f l www j Patented Nov. 25, 1884.

'Unirse Smarts Pnrnsmim,

EDVVINGHICKERING, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

FIRE=PLACE.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,465, dated November 25, 1884.

Application filed July 16, 1868.

To aZZ whom imay concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN Cnrcnnnrne, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Places, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto open fire-places wherein it is desired to increase the heating capacity of the same, and it consists in a novel construction of a heat-dedecting 'perforated hood in combination with a damper and airheating spaces about the sides and top of the fire-place, as will be fully understood from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my invention; Fig. 2, a plan view showing the arrangement of air-spaces, and Fig. 3 a sectional side elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the usual opening formed in a chimney, B, is set the fire-place or grate proper, A. This is preferably of iron, and is made smaller than the opening` in the chimney, thus leaving a space behind it and at each sideC C C. This space is entirely headed over, 7 so as to leave no communication between it and the flue. The sides of this fire-box A extend a short distance beyond the breast of the chimney, and unite with the surrounding frame-work of the mantel F, leaving a space between it and the chimney, as shown in Fig. 2. This airspace also communicates with a chamber formed between the mantel and the chimney above the nre-place, as represented in Fig. 3. This front F is provided with a series of openings, a a a, which allow a free circulation of air to and from the air-space C C. It may be of any desired material and pattern. In the drawings it is represented as of alternate marble and tile laid up with spaces between. Brass or other metal in open-figured work may be used, if preferred. To avoid unduly heating the'mantel-shelf, a considerable space of nonconducting material is interposed between it and the air-chamber above the front, of the nre-place. It is not absolutely necessary to the invention that it have this upper air-chamber, or that the mantel-front be thrown out from the chimney, as shown. The sides of the (No model.)

lire-box may be just flush with the chimneybreast, and the side openings be covered by a flat perforated slab of any proper material, allowing admission and escape of air only at the sides; but on account of its greater at tractiveness and lche better circulation it affords, I prefer the form represented.

The object and effect of the invention will now be readily seen. A large proportion of the heat generated by a grate-re is radiated toward the sides and back. Vith the exception of a little reflected heat, this in ordinary fire-places is wasted and goes up the chimney, or heats the chimney itself without raising the temperature of the apartment appreciably; but in my invention this heat serves to raise the temperature of the air in the spaces adjacent, which is indirect communication with the air in the room, the cooler air entering said spaces at the lower registers, and the heated air escapinguitoV the room through the regis ters above. The apartment is thereby warmed with the greatest possible economy of fuel.

To deliect the draft forward, the back of the fire-place is provided with a projecting hood, D, the upper and rearwardly extending portion of which supports a portion of the chimney. To its under side is attached a damper, E, adapted to slide forward and backward for the purpose of regulating the draft in a manner so simple as to require no verbal description. The front part of the fire-place is bridged over by a suitable slab, b, which supports the superincumbent chimney.

I am aware that open ireplaces have been constructed before my invention with an airheating fireback and a short projecting per forated portion at their upper ends.

I am also aware that open fire-places have been constructed with air-heating spaces at the back and sides and breast. These features I disclaim.

By my novel combinationv of a double-inclined hollow hood, perforated underneath and provided with a damper, I direct the heated air downward upon the rising iiame, I allow soot and ashes to freely fall from the top of the said hood back into the fire-place, I am able to regulate the draft from the throat of the chimney, and I support part of the chimney, and I deflect the heat outward into the room.

Having thus described my invention, what I IOC) t .-i I Y Y claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with an *open re-plaee, an open fire-box providedwth a hollow angular chimney-supporting and heat-defleetng hood, D, yperfolfated and having a sliding damper, a slab, b, a grate, A, air-spaces C C G at the back and sides of the said re-box, closed on top7 an air-space above the slab b, and a mantel, which is perforated at a a, all constructed 1o and adapted to operate substantially in the manner and for` the prposes described.

In testimony whereof I aflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN GHICKERING. Vtnesses:

J. M. ST. JOHN, Si. M. ENDICOTT. 

